Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is ready to open talks about a new contract with Emanuel Pogatetz.

Southgate told the Sunday Sun: "It's great to hear that he wants to stay longer, we're delighted with what he's done.

"There are lots of things over the summer that we'll look at because you want to keep good players, and you want to keep people of that sort of mentality and professionalism.

"We haven't done anything as yet, he's got two years left, so now would be the sort of time when it's something that we should start to talk about.

"I'd be surprised if other people didn't look at him and note his improvement.

"But he enjoys working here, and with us. He's very very settled but extending his contract is something that I think we have to think seriously about."